A Traditional Ukrainian Christmas

[Olga Drozd]

A Traditional Ukrainian Christmas

In every Ukrainian home where national customs are in practice, a sheaf of wheat, "Diduch" is as much a part of the decorations as is the Christmas tree, "Yalynka" the Christmas symbol of all nations.

The sheaf of wheat is symbolic of the hope that next year's crop will be bountiful.  Farming was the chief livelihood in Ukraine.  Anything grown in the fields is looked upon as a gift from the heavens and deserves the praise of every man.

It is also a traditional custom to spread wisps of hay under the embroidered tablecloth and under the table.  This represents the manger where Christ was born.

Christmas Eve is an important part of the Christmas season.  The home is redecorated and rearranged days ahead of time.  With the first evening star, the members of the family take their places at the table.  The father leads the grace and asks the blessing for the health of his family and the hope that all may be together again the following Christmas.

The candle in the centre of the table is lit, signifying the star that appeared at the birth of Christ.  The head of the household says "Khrystos Razdayetsia" ("Christ is Born"), to which the people in the house reply "Slavete Yoho"("Glorify Him").

The repast is meatless.  Ukrainian women prepare a meal of delicious delicacies. It consists of 12 different dishes, symbolic of the 12 apostles.  All contained no meat or dairy products as this still was a day of abstinence. The first of the 12 dishes served is called "kutia", whole wheat cooked for many hours and prepared with honey and ground poppy seeds.  Other dishes are borsch with small triangular-shaped bits of dough filled with mushrooms (vushka), fish, holubtsi, and varenyky with mushroom gravy.

A special braided bread called "kolach", pampushky, medivnyk and chrustyky are also served after midnight service when the fast is finally broken.

Following the meal, the children play games, while the young people form small groups of carol singers. On Christmas Eve, carols are sung until it is time to prepare for midnight mass. 

All members of the family went to church to attend the Nativity Liturgy, a beautiful celebration of Christ’s birth. The liturgy was preceded by a matin service during which the words “Z namy Boh” (“God is with us”) were repeated over and over again.  Once the liturgy was completed, the families greeted each other with the traditional greeting:  “Khrystos Razdayetsia” (“Christ is born”) to which would come the reply, “Slavete Yoho” (Let us glorify him”).  After visiting with friends at church, the families returned to their homes.  Now that the fast was broken, the delicious pastries that had been prepared for Christmas might be eaten before the family retired to bed.

During the three holy days, carollers both young and old sing in every house in the parish.  At each home, friendly greetings are exchanged and the carollers ask the blessing of the new born Christ upon every member of the family.  The hospodar thanks all for their good wishes and invites the visitors to come in, while the lady of the house serves food.

Suggested Dishes for Christmas Eve Supper:

When recipes call for animal fat or milk products, replace these ingredients with a vegetable shortening, or cooking oil.

RITUAL DISH:

Kutya

APPETIZERS:

Pickled Herrings in Milt Sauce
Pickled Mushrooms

ENTREES:

Baked Stuffed Fish
Jellied Stuffed Pike
Fish in Aspic
Fish Balls
Herrings and Mushrooms in Sauce
Holubtsi with Rice or Buckwheat
Varenyky with Potatoes or Sauerkraut
Beans with Prunes
Sauerkraut with Peas
Baked Beets
Piquant Beets
Mushrooms in Sauce

DESSERT:

Varenyky with Prunes
Varenyky with Poppy Seed
Compote of Dried Fruit

PASTRIES:

Pampushky, Medivnyk, Makivnyk, Chrusty, and other Pastries.